Burn Wound Infection Risks Drive Recce’s Deepening U.S. Army Collaboration
Recce Pharmaceuticals has secured a second Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research to test its RECCE 327 Gel in burn wound infection models, underscoring growing military interest in its synthetic anti-infectives.
- Second CRADA signed with U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research
- RECCE 327 Gel to be tested against MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Focus on burn wound infections using Walker-Mason rat model
- Potential for military field deployment and broader clinical use
- Builds on existing collaboration with U.S. Army Medical Research Institute
Recce Strengthens Military Collaboration
Recce Pharmaceuticals has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with the U.S. military through a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR). This follows Recce's earlier collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), signalling a deepening relationship with key U.S. defence research bodies.
The new agreement focuses on evaluating Recce's topical formulation, RECCE 327 Gel (R327G), in combat-relevant burn wound infection models. USAISR will employ its Walker-Mason rat model, a well-established platform designed to mimic battlefield burn injuries and their infectious complications, to assess the gel's efficacy.
Targeting Critical Burn Wound Pathogens
Burn wound infections remain a leading cause of mortality in trauma patients, complicated further by the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study will specifically test R327G against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two pathogens notorious for their role in difficult-to-treat burn infections.
Recce's R327G is a synthetic, broad-spectrum anti-infective gel designed to rapidly reduce bacterial burden without fostering resistance. Its potential as a frontline wound dressing for military use is particularly compelling, offering a practical solution for field deployment alongside possible applications in civilian clinical and post-operative settings.
Strategic Importance and Future Prospects
CEO James Graham highlighted the strategic value of this collaboration, noting the accelerating interest from the U.S. Government in Recce's technology across multiple therapeutic fronts. The ability to deliver R327G as a hydrogel dressing positions it uniquely in combat wound care, addressing urgent needs in both military and broader healthcare environments.
This latest CRADA complements Recce's ongoing efforts to develop a new class of synthetic anti-infectives capable of overcoming antimicrobial resistance, a global health challenge recognised by the World Health Organization and supported by regulatory incentives such as the FDA's Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation.
While the announcement does not specify timelines or detailed endpoints for the study, the collaboration with USAISR underscores Recce's growing credibility and potential to influence treatment paradigms for severe wound infections.
Bottom Line?
Recce’s expanding U.S. military partnerships could accelerate its path to frontline burn wound therapies, but clinical proof remains the critical next hurdle.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the expected timelines and milestones for the USAISR study on RECCE 327 Gel?
- How might successful results influence Recce’s regulatory and commercial strategy in the U.S. and globally?
- Could this collaboration lead to further U.S. government funding or expanded military applications?
